Story by Sarah Salmons
Photos by the Milken Family Foundation

When Dave Mason walked across the stage to receive one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for educators, he wasn’t thinking about himself. 

He was thinking about his students. 

“This award is as much a recognition of the students and staff I’ve worked with during my career as it is for me,” Mason said. “Without their effort and enthusiasm, my program would be nothing compared to what it is today.” 

That mindset has become the hallmark of Mason’s career — and helped earn the University of Missouri College of Education & Human Development alumnus the 2025 Milken Educator Award. Often called the “Oscar of Teaching,” the award recognizes exceptional early- to mid-career educators who are shaping the future of education and includes an unrestricted $25,000 prize, lifetime membership in the national Milken Educator Network and opportunities for continued leadership development. Since 1987, only about 3,000 educators nationwide have received the honor. 

For Mason, M Ed ’20, the recognition reflects something much bigger than professional success. It represents years spent building relationships, creating opportunities and helping students discover their potential. 

Building more than technical skills 

As the manufacturing teacher at Bacon Academy in Colchester, Conn., Mason has transformed what was once a traditional career and technical education program into one of the state’s premier manufacturing pathways. 

Today, more than 130 students are enrolled in the four-year program, making it the largest elective program in eastern Connecticut. Students master welding, machining, plasma cutting, CNC operation and metal fabrication while earning college credit, OSHA certifications, pre-apprenticeship hours and industry credentials that prepare them for immediate careers. 

Under Mason’s leadership, 97% of students pass the state’s Youth Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative assessment, while 95% of advanced students earn industry certifications. Female enrollment has grown from just 3-5% to as high as 35%, and countless graduates leave high school with internships, college credit and full-time job opportunities already in place. 

Yet Mason believes those impressive outcomes begin with something far less tangible. 

“They graduated knowing they had a sense of belonging, community and family within the school,” he said. “Whether it was on a sports team or in the classroom, all my students felt valued, respected and cared for. When I was able to create an environment like that, the rest just fell into place.” 

Lessons that extended far beyond athletics 

Although Mason teaches manufacturing, his passion for coaching led him to pursue a Master of Education in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership through Mizzou’s online program. 

The degree focuses on helping coaches, educators and leaders develop the skills to motivate others through positive psychology, meaningful relationships and purposeful leadership. 

For Mason, who has coached football, golf and baseball, the lessons reached far beyond the playing field. 

“The master’s program helped me understand how I can connect with my athletes on a deeper level,” Mason said. “It gave me a new perspective on how to communicate with people as individuals instead of using blanket policies or the same communication style with everyone.” 

As he learned to better understand each student’s strengths, struggles, motivations and goals, his coaching philosophy naturally carried into his classroom. 

“I was able to build stronger relationships with my players, and that easily translated to my classroom,” he said. “I’ve been able to better help students find their career path and seize opportunities they’re interested in.” 

Today, whether he’s coaching athletics or introducing students to advanced manufacturing, Mason approaches every interaction the same way: by getting to know the person before the performance. 

“The biggest lesson I took away was getting to know students on a personal level,” he said. “Knowing their family life, hobbies, career interests and how they respond to challenges creates stronger relationships. When students know they’re valued, they become much more willing to grow.” 

The power of feeling seen 

One experience from Mizzou continues to shape Mason’s leadership years after graduation. 

He recalls that Dr. Gregory Sullivan, Director of Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership, regularly asked his students about more than assignments. 

“He took a genuine interest in who we were as people,” Mason said. “I appreciated it. I felt valued and not just a number in a program.” 

That simple act left a lasting impression. 

Today, Mason strives to create that same experience for every student who enters his classroom. 

When Sullivan heard that his former student earned this prestigious recognition, he said he couldn’t be happier, adding that Mason “exemplifies everything we hope our graduates become.”  

“Dave embraces the idea that people perform at their best when they feel seen, valued and genuinely cared for, and he has translated that philosophy into extraordinary outcomes for his students and his community,” Sullivan said. “What makes me most proud is that he didn’t simply learn these principles; he lives them, adapts them to his own style and creates opportunities that have changed countless lives.” 

Whether helping a teenager overcome self-doubt, connecting a student with an internship or simply being someone who listens, Mason measures success by the lives he influences. 

“As most teachers will admit, the most gratifying part of this profession is knowingly—or sometimes unknowingly—having a positive impact on someone’s life,” he said. “If I can make that impact on as many students as I can throughout my career, then I believe that to be an extremely successful one.” 

Now the father of three young children, Mason often reflects on the educators he hopes they will encounter one day. 

“I think about the type of teachers and coaches I wish for my children to have,” he said. “I want to be that person for my students.” 

A philosophy that changes lives 

Mason’s influence extends well beyond his classroom. He partners with Connecticut State Three Rivers Community College, the Connecticut Department of Labor, workforce development organizations and industry leaders to connect students with college credit, apprenticeships and meaningful careers. He mentors new career and technical education teachers, serves on advisory boards and helped secure funding for a $200,000 renovation of Bacon Academy’s manufacturing lab. 

The Connecticut Commissioner of Education Charlene M. Russell-Tucker praised Mason’s statewide impact and accomplishments during the Milken Award Assembly at Bacon Academy but emphasized that the greatest impact of all is helping his students gain confidence when they are in his classroom. 

“He’s known for connecting with students when they feel disconnected and helping them see value in themselves and in their learning,” Russell-Tucker said. 

Mason’s combination of technical excellence and human connection embodies the mission of Mizzou’s Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership and winning the Milken Educator Award shows that the approach works. 

 “Receiving this award has reinforced that the work we’re doing matters and that it creates opportunities for students, families and entire communities,” he said. 

His definition of leadership is simple. 

“Leadership is not about telling other people what to do,” Mason said. “It’s about showing them how they can become the best version of themselves.”